James Rupert writes: Musharraf May Quit Within Days Before Impeachment Proceedings

Musharraf spokesman Rashid Qureshi repeatedly denied reports this week that the president will resign within days. Musharraf himself yesterday called for "a reconciliatory rather than confrontational approach'' for the sake of Pakistan's political stability, its battle against Islamic militants and economic growth. Musharraf's departure would end nine years on the world stage that saw Pakistan expand its economy by 150 percent and revive close ties with the U.S. After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Musharraf allied with the Bush administration to fight al-Qaeda, though he failed to suppress the Taliban movement, which has bases in western Pakistan, near the Afghan border. The battle over Musharraf's tenure has divided the government since his foes won parliamentary elections in February. Journalist James Rupert, head of Newsday's international bureau in Islamabad, Pakistan began his career abroad as a Peace Corps volunteer, teaching mechanics and welding in Morocco.

Aug. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf is prepared to resign before his foes in parliament open impeachment proceedings next week, according to a newspaper owned by a provincial governor appointed by the embattled leader.

The English-language Daily Times newspaper yesterday cited "informed sources'' as saying the president and parliament's ruling coalition still disagreed as of Aug. 13 on whether Musharraf will stay in Pakistan or go into exile.

Musharraf spokesman Rashid Qureshi repeatedly denied reports this week that the president will resign within days. Musharraf himself yesterday called for "a reconciliatory rather than confrontational approach'' for the sake of Pakistan's political stability, its battle against Islamic militants and economic growth.

Musharraf's departure would end nine years on the world stage that saw Pakistan expand its economy by 150 percent and revive close ties with the U.S. After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Musharraf allied with the Bush administration to fight al-Qaeda, though he failed to suppress the Taliban movement, which has bases in western Pakistan, near the Afghan border.

The battle over Musharraf's tenure has divided the government since his foes won parliamentary elections in February.

Real Issues

Musharraf's departure "is the only way the government can get back to dealing with the real issues,'' including Pakistan's highest inflation rate in 30 years and its fight against Taliban insurgents, said Talat Masood, a political consultant in the capital, Islamabad.

Musharraf's power has been draining away for months, following his loss of popular support last year and his resignation in November as army commander, said Pakistani political analyst Shuja Nawaz, speaking by phone from his home in Washington.

If Musharraf does resign, it will resolve a problem that has burdened both Pakistani and U.S. leaders, said Henri Barkey, a former State Department policy planner who now heads the international relations department at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

"The expiration date on his freshness had expired,'' Barkey said yesterday. "He was not providing much leadership. He had run out of things he could do for Pakistan and was spending most of his time just trying to figure out how to remain in office.''

Impeachment Plans

The coalition government, headed by the Pakistan Peoples Party and its junior partner, the Pakistan Muslim League of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, plans to begin impeachment proceedings as early as Aug. 18 unless Musharraf resigns.

Political analysts in Pakistan said they have received conflicting information about Musharraf's intentions.

"I'm hearing from various people close to these talks that Musharraf is really adamant about not leaving,'' said Hassan Abbas, a former security official and now a researcher on Pakistani politics at Harvard University.

"The atmosphere is getting frenzied,'' Abbas said. "It's quite possible that the press reporting represents leaks by people negotiating a deal who want to get some momentum behind the idea that it can be pulled off.''

"Conflicting signals still emanate from the president's camp,'' wrote Zaffar Abbas, editor of Dawn, in yesterday's edition of the national daily newspaper.

The Daily Times report said the president is refusing "an immediate exile out of the country following his resignation.'' He is insisting on the right to stay in his home outside Islamabad and on immunity from prosecution for his actions during the nine years of rule since his 1999 army coup that ousted Sharif, the newspaper said.

More Sympathy

Daily Times editorials have shown more sympathy for Musharraf than others in Pakistan. The newspaper is owned by Salmaan Taseer, who Musharraf appointed as governor of Punjab province.

Taseer is a longtime activist in the PPP, which was headed by former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto until her assassination in December. Taseer is close to Musharraf and served under him in a caretaker cabinet appointed in November to oversee elections in February that brought the PPP and Sharif's party to power.

The Daily Times report was echoed by another on the Wall Street Journal's Web site. That report, citing people familiar with the situation, said Musharraf is expected to leave office within days following a breakthrough in secret talks aimed at easing his departure.

Musharraf will neither face impeachment nor be prosecuted, the Journal cited one of the people as saying. A major development is expected in the next 48 hours, the newspaper cited the person as saying.

To contact the reporter on this story: James Rupert in Islamabad at jrupert3@bloomberg.net.

Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance ActSenator Chris Dodd vowed to filibuster the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that helped this administration violate the civil liberties of Americans. "It is time to say: No more. No more trampling on our Constitution. No more excusing those who violate the rule of law. These are fundamental, basic, eternal principles. They have been around, some of them, for as long as the Magna Carta. They are enduring. What they are not is temporary. And what we do not do in a time where our country is at risk is abandon them."

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Story Source: Bloomber News

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Pakistan; Figures; COS - Morocco; Journalism

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